Improvement in fracture-boxes



2Sheets--Sheet1. B. WESTER KAM P.

Fracture-Box. No. 163,829. Patented May 25,1875.

- 2 Sheets- Sheei 2. C. WESTERKAMP.

Fracture-Box.

No, 163,829, Patented May 25,1875.

THE GRAPHIC C0.PHOT0-LITH 39&41PARK PLACLNX.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IMPROVEMENT IN FRACTURE-BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No 163,829, dated May 25, 1875; application filed August 8, 1874. I

To all whom tt may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN WESTER- KAMP, of the city of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, State of Ohio, have invented a Machine for Resting Broken Legs and Limbs, of which the following is a specification:

My invention, which is a machine for the treatment of broken legs or limbs, is shown to the best advantage, when in use, in a side view, in Figure 1 in the accompanying drawings.

When in position ready for use, it represents a box consisting of two bottom plates, a a, jointed together with hinges, the joint being as close as possible to the supporting-leg h. The short end of the bottom plate a a is again jointed to the lower or foot plate 0, and is intended to inclose the lower part of the thigh, the joint nearest to leg h allowing motion to the knee.

The lower part of the broken leg is inserted I in the long part of the machine, with the sole of the foot placed against the foot-board d.

Opposite d, hinged below the bottom a, is leg 9, both legs, h and g, resting on the rackf, gradually elevated from each end, thus allowing the bottom a a to be lowered or raised, either in the center by the knee-joint, or at the lower end by the foot, and to be placed in any desirable position necessary or convenient for the treatment of the limb, according to the nature of the fracture. The sides of the box, consisting of four pieces, I) I) and c 0, are also hinged to the bottom a a. The longest b are hinged to the long end of a a, and are provided with two brass hooks, pp, which hook into two eyes attached to the edges of footboard d. The sides, when shut, hold the lower part of the box perfectly firm together with d, by means of the hooks, which may, in some cases, be required, to prevent the pa-- tient from moving his feet. In other less serious cases the patient may be allowed to move his joint, and then the hooks may be opened and the springs o 0 will begin to act. They are attached to the sides at one end, and at the other to foot-board d, as shown in Figs. 1. and 3. These springs hold the foot-board (Z up in its place, but allow it to give to the motion of the foot of the patient.

The side boards I) b and c o are shown in Fig. 1 in a side view; in Fig. 3 in a top View, in a shut position, as they will be when the machine is in use. They are shown partly opened in Fig. 2.

The object of opening the sides is to have easy access to the bandage, to either renew the same or change its position.

The square holes in the side boards, as well as in the foot-board, are for the purpose of admitting straps or cords, to tie the leg firmly in the box after the bandage is placed upon it. These are shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and a little round hole, also shown .in Fig. 2, above the square holes in foot-board d, is made to have a weight hooked into, if necessary, to stretch the foot.

The round hole 112, which is bored through the bottom a, represented in Figs. 1 and 2, countersunk on the top side, is made for any matter which might accumulate to flow off. The countersink on top gives the heel a comfortable position.

One of the most essential arrangements in my invention is the little device 6, shown in Fig. 3, and in Fig. l by a dotted line. Fig. 1 also shows thumb-screw l, passing through nut is, in order to lower or raise the plate i, which is hinged to the upper side of the bottom a, and when let down will be flush with it. It is made for the purpose of adjusting the position of the leg to a nicety, which is very essential, in order to raise or lower the same. The least trifle may be sufficient to relieve the patient from great pain.

I am aware that there have been machines for the treatment of broken legs; therefore I do not claim this machine as such; but

What I do claim, and wish to secure by Letters Patent, is-

- 1. In combination with the hinged sides and foot-rest, the hinged piece 1', adjustable by means of the set-screw and nut, as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The hinged foot-board,held by the springs 0 0, and furnished with rectangular and circular holes, as and for the purposes set forth.

CHRIST. WESTERKAMP.

Witnesses J. KREUZBURG, F. H. ROWEHANY. 

